Patricia Keiser

Patricia “Pat” Jo (Buckley) Keiser was born May 7, 1954, in Cozad, NE to Dick and Gladys Buckley. She passed away at her home in Colby, KS on October 8, 2024. She grew up on the family farm south of Cozad and graduated from Cozad High School in 1972. She went on to study at Kearney State College and continued at Midplains Community College in North Platte to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Pat practiced nursing for fifteen years in the hospital, emergency room, and clinic setting. She helped with everything from trauma to delivering babies but took a special interest in care with those dealing with death. She would continue this trend later in life by doing grief counseling and working with those in Hospice care.

Pat remembered going out with this farm kid from Gothenburg back in high school and gave him a call. She and Bruce were married on July 30, 1977, and began their married life farming north of Gothenburg. Life took them to Hoisington, KS in 1985 and eventually to Colby, KS in 1988 where they’ve remained since.

She was mother to her beloved sons and mama Pat to countless young friends in Colby. She dedicated her life to helping young people by volunteering in her sons’ classrooms, Colby Middle School office, Kindergarten classes at Sacred Heart Catholic School, crossing guard on Hwy 24 walking out in front of semis to keep her kids safe, and driving a school bus to make sure everybody got home safe. She loved all of the kids under her care through the years.

A passionate basketball fan, Pat helped with the Colby High School teams for years and then the basketball program at Colby Community College for years. She kept the official score book for all of the CCC games and was mama Pat to all of the players. For all of her passion and dedication, she was inducted into the Colby Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2015.

A woman of deep faith, Pat was active in church life. She was instrumental in starting the food bank in Colby, finding it intolerable that there were hungry people in her community. When confined to home she followed worship services where family members were pastors and leaders.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by husband Bruce; sons, Michael (Kim) Keiser of Pratt, KS, and Nathan Keiser of Nevada, MO; two brothers, Brent (Pam) Buckley of Cheyenne, WY, and Rod (Dori) Buckley of Winner, SD. She is also survived by many in-laws, nieces, nephews, countless friends, and her dear cats Meathead and Maddie.

The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, October 18, 2024, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. A Celebration of Pat’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Colby United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Genesis Food Bank, CCC Food Bank or NWKareS Hospice and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com